Now is the perfect time to start researching jobs and exploring possible future career paths.

A great way to get started is by visiting www.careercruising.com . Here's how it works: a counselor, teacher, or administrator from your school sets up a school account, giving all students access to the site's services. If your school has not already created an account, talk to a guidance counselor or someone at your school's career center and encourage them to do so.

Features of CareerCruising's website include:

• comprehensive college, university, and financial aid information


• in-depth occupation profiles, with detailed job description, range of earnings, required education, related job, and direct links to schools with specialized programs in the area


• multimedia informational interviews under each career profile


• career matchmaker based on Interest Assessment


• a portfolio tool that allows users to save assessment results, bookmark schools and careers of interest, and more

Your school's career center is also a valuable resource in your search for a career that interests you. Career centers typically offer personality and skills assessment tests, books on various job fields, mock interviews, and on-site visits to places of employment to learn more about different career opportunities.